By Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General, Indian Space Association (ISpA)
“The successful launch of GalaxEye’s first satellite under Mission Drishti, also the largest ever built by a private Indian company, marks a pivotal shift in India’s approach to Earth observation. It serves as a definitive proof-of-concept for India’s private space sector reforms and signals a transition from small-scale testing to sovereign, all-weather surveillance capabilities critical for national security and disaster response.
Importantly, with the world’s first commercial ‘OptoSAR’ sensor, GalaxEye has achieved what only few global players have, which is seamlessly combining optical and SAR capabilities on a single platform to enable persistent, all-weather intelligence. What stands out is not just the technology, but its broader impact on how downstream applications will increasingly define value in the space economy, particularly in Earth observation where timely, decision-grade insights are critical. I congratulate the GalaxEye team on translating a bold vision into real capability and setting a new benchmark for India’s private space sector.”